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By Taylor Eckert
s the year comes to a close the senior class voted on how they remembered their classmates. The categories for the Senior superlatives include: best couple, most spirited, most athletic, class comedian, best smile, most likely to be president, most creative, best eyes, best hair, and best dressed. “I thought that I might get best hair because I have crazy hair,” senior Ethan VanDerPloeg. Other times the nominations are unexpected. “(The superlative) was somewhat of a surprise because there are others who have the same ambitions,” senior Austin Hamner said.
Students could be nominated more than once. “I didn’t really think about the most creative superlative,” VanDerPloeg said. “I draw all the time. I have a sketchpad with me at all times.” Holding leadership positions within the school might have been a reason in which Hamner thinks he was voted Most Likely to Become President. “I’m in several leadership positions including President of the National Honor’s Society and Vice President of the senior class,” Hamner said. Sometimes the superlatives influence future aspirations. “I’m planning on going to West Point, which usually has some destination for politics,” Hamner said. “I’m going for four years to get my Bachelors in Science and maybe pre-med or engineering
depending on my interests. But I plan on eventually going into politics, such as running for U.S. Senate.” VanDerPloeg is also planning to put to use what his peers see in him in his future. “For college, I’m going to the IUPUI Heron School of Art,” VanDerPloeg said. “Right now I’m just planning to major in general art but I’m not sure. I really enjoy ceramics, but I don’t think that’s a very good major or possibly even graphic design, but since I hate computers, I’m not sure yet.” Inspiration can come with a senior superlative nomination. “Feeling that fellow students think that you are a leader is inspiring,” Hamner said. “It helps magnify that particular calling.”
Summer jobs occupy students By Rebecca Newbrough
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The Westons gather for a family photo at their family reunion over the 2007 summer. The Westons are planning to return to Utah this summer. Photo provided by Chloe Weston
Students make plans for summer By Sara Burtt
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hen school is out, some students change their usual scenery from the classroom, to the beach. “This summer I am going to Florida with my best friend Katie. We are staying in a condo next to some of our other friends,” sophomore Ali Salman said. These two have been going on vacation together since they were young. “Katie is my cousin, so we have been going to Florida together for a while. We’ve been at least four or five times,” Salman said. Salman is excited to have time to relax. “We will probably just be
hanging out on the beach the whole time,” Salman said. “I want to wake up early and go running on the beach in the mornings.” Sophomore Courtenay Cox is going on a missions trip this summer. “I am going to Costa Rica with a group from my church,” Cox said, “We will be running a vacation bible school.” The trip also has some perks. “We are staying at a hotel to relax after a long week of work,” Cox said. “We will be going swimming in hot springs located on the volcano, and we are going zip lining through the Amazon Rainforest. Sophomores Scott and Chloe Weston get together with their family every summer.
“I love my cousins. They are so funny and we have so much fun when we are with them,” Chloe Weston said. “This is the only time we get to see them, so I am very excited.” Being part of a large family, planning for these reunions can be difficult. “My dad is one of seven kids, and each year a different family is in charge of the reunion, then one family doesn’t have to stress over it every year,” Scott Weston said. The family does some activities that are not normally done at family reunions. “We have gone white water rafting, and gone camping in the mountains,” Chloe Weston said. “We usually try to do activities that everyone can do together.”
hen hearing the words “summer vacation”, many students begin to think of the beach, sleeping in, and hanging with friends. For others, vacation is the prime time for money making. “I work at Shï, in the mall,” sophomore Margo Lukich said. “I make minimum wage plus a certain percent of commission, depending on how much I sell, by personally helping customers find and buy shoes they like.” Reasons for applying for summer jobs may vary. “I work at the deli area in Meijer,” senior Nate Walden said. “It helps me pay for my health insurance, gas, cell phone, and when I take my girlfriend out.” Junior Jacque Black, who works as a cashier and concession attendant at Perry Park Pool, has her job for other reasons. “I need the money to pay for a Europe trip I am going on for vacation,” Black said. “I also just need it for other things I may want, so I don’t have to always ask my parents for everything. Working over the summer does not mean it won’t be enjoyable. “I love my job,” Lukich said. “I make really good money, because I sell a lot and I love all the girls I work with. My employee discount is amazing too.” Working hours may also vary during the summer. “I will most likely work two or three days during the week and I will work on Saturdays and Sunday,” sophomore Christa Harmon said. “I will work four to five hour shifts.”
Walden has a different plan. “I will probably work just during the week, Monday through Friday, from 6:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.” Others are open to any schedule they may be given. “I will be working all through the week, Monday- Sunday,” Black said. “I love working there, because this will be my third season, so I know everyone really well, and we get free pool time, as well as free ice rink time when I work during the winter.” Students may even get to hang out with their friends from school while working. “There are many GHS students that work at Perry Park,” Black said. “Sophomores Josh Syberg and Alex Johnson work there, along with junior Josh Pfifer. I love working at Perry Park, because we all have a lot of fun together, and I have gotten to know my bosses very well in my past three years of working there.” Applying for a summer job may not be as hard or as nerve- racking as students may think. “My sister worked there two years ago when I began working at Meijer, so she got me the job,” Walden said. Connections are not always needed to seal the deal. “I just went to the mall and applied everywhere I thought I might want to work at,” Harmon said. “I got interviewed a lot and got the jobs, but I decided to go with Fossil because it offered the best pay, which is $7 an hour.” Shopping in the store on a regular basis also helps to get the job. “I just asked for an application because I get all of my shoes there,” Lukich said. “I almost instantly got hired.”